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Heart of the Storm
A bid for freedom...
The lush, misty island of Madeira seemed a perfect escape from an unwanted bridegroom for shy, bookish heiress Eliza Thoroughgood.
Ambushed by desire...
But barely have they arrived when she and her frail young cousin Aubrey find themselves captive on the exotic vessel of Cyprian Dare—a man whose bold hands and even bolder mouth arouse a tiny, wicked part of Eliza.
An exquisite revenge...
Cyprian never forgave the man who abandoned his mother and made him a bastard. Now that man's heir, the boy Aubrey, will be his instrument of revenge—however furiously the beautiful Eliza guards him.
Foiled by an ecstatic love...
For Cyprian, it will be an easy matter to tame this lovely innocent in the sweet, dark seaswept night...until Eliza's passionate heart challenges him to a choice he could never have foreseen.
The lush, misty island of Madeira seemed a perfect escape from an unwanted bridegroom for shy, bookish heiress Eliza Thoroughgood.
Ambushed by desire...
But barely have they arrived when she and her frail young cousin Aubrey find themselves captive on the exotic vessel of Cyprian Dare—a man whose bold hands and even bolder mouth arouse a tiny, wicked part of Eliza.
An exquisite revenge...
Cyprian never forgave the man who abandoned his mother and made him a bastard. Now that man's heir, the boy Aubrey, will be his instrument of revenge—however furiously the beautiful Eliza guards him.
Foiled by an ecstatic love...
For Cyprian, it will be an easy matter to tame this lovely innocent in the sweet, dark seaswept night...until Eliza's passionate heart challenges him to a choice he could never have foreseen.
361 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Rexanne Becnel
64 books126 followersRexanne Becnel is the author of more than twenty historical romance and contemporary mainstream novels, many of which appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. With the publication of her first novel, My Gallant Enemy, Becnel won the Waldenbooks Award for Best First-Time Romance Author and the Romantic Times Award for Best Medieval Romance by a New Author. While growing up, Becnel lived for a time in Germany and England, where she became fascinated by medieval history. After studying architecture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, she worked as a building inspector for the Vieux Carré Commission, the agency of the City of New Orleans charged with protecting and preserving the distinct architectural and historic character of the French Quarter. Becnel lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 28, 2018
I was going through my mother's books when I found this one and remembered that I read it a long time ago. And funnily enough, I can still remember the majority of the storyline.
I was rather young. Hard to guess but this book was published in here in 2005, so I was at least 11. So probably a bit more. Let's just say 12/13. And in my room, there was a huge library which I slowly claimed and pushed out my mum's books. But this one was still there, and for some reason, I always stared at the cover when I went to bed in the evening. So one day I decided that whatever I'm going to read it! And honestly? I don't think that the book was that great or anything. But it felt like I was doing something illegal when I read it! I think reading it in secret was more fun than reading the book.
I'm mainly giving this book a good rating for the wonderful memory it holds.
I was rather young. Hard to guess but this book was published in here in 2005, so I was at least 11. So probably a bit more. Let's just say 12/13. And in my room, there was a huge library which I slowly claimed and pushed out my mum's books. But this one was still there, and for some reason, I always stared at the cover when I went to bed in the evening. So one day I decided that whatever I'm going to read it! And honestly? I don't think that the book was that great or anything. But it felt like I was doing something illegal when I read it! I think reading it in secret was more fun than reading the book.
I'm mainly giving this book a good rating for the wonderful memory it holds.
February 20, 2023
This is my first time reading this author's work. The writing and some of the mannerisms were too contemporary for me. I think the hero used the word 'horny' at one point and the heroine said, "Let's be blunt." I didn't notice this until the second half when things started to drag and repeat, and naturally, my attention focused on the historically inaccurate dialogue and mannerisms.
The author refers to the heroine's parents by their first names, Constance and Gerald, and when I first read this, I thought they were other characters, like members of her family or friends or something. I got lost in the first chapter due to all the names/characters being thrown at me all at once. Who's Michael again? And Perry?
There were moments of seduction where the heroine says no but the hero keeps kissing her (or doing other things) until she gives in to her desires.
The hero's revenge plot was kind of weak. The ending was kind of abrupt, with no epilogue! No real closure for me.
I do plan to read more of this author's work. My Gallant Enemy and maybe The Maiden Bride
The author refers to the heroine's parents by their first names, Constance and Gerald, and when I first read this, I thought they were other characters, like members of her family or friends or something. I got lost in the first chapter due to all the names/characters being thrown at me all at once. Who's Michael again? And Perry?
There were moments of seduction where the heroine says no but the hero keeps kissing her (or doing other things) until she gives in to her desires.
The hero's revenge plot was kind of weak. The ending was kind of abrupt, with no epilogue! No real closure for me.
I do plan to read more of this author's work. My Gallant Enemy and maybe The Maiden Bride
May 31, 2026
I had fun with this one! That said, it is very low angst and not a lot of plot happens (besides the initial set up). Soo if you are wanting angsty, bonkers, villains, adventures set at sea, well this one is not that. lol But if you want a historical romance that is set at sea, with a shy bookish heiress with asthma who doesn’t want to get married to her betrothed so she sets sail to Madeira with her young cousin and ends up kinda captive by the captain hero who wants revenge against her Uncle (for reasons) but he falls for her along the way instead…then this book is that!
I do enjoy this author’s writing, it’s very easy to get pulled into and the first 25% of her books always has the majority of the plot delivered. Her stepbacks are always stunning and I’d definitely read more from her! This was my 2nd read and I’ve given both books 4 stars so far. Eliza was a fun character, I liked the asthma rep for her, Cyprian was set on revenge at first but of course gets swayed by love found along the way instead. There is a lot of consent so that’s always refreshing in some of these older HRs too!
I do enjoy this author’s writing, it’s very easy to get pulled into and the first 25% of her books always has the majority of the plot delivered. Her stepbacks are always stunning and I’d definitely read more from her! This was my 2nd read and I’ve given both books 4 stars so far. Eliza was a fun character, I liked the asthma rep for her, Cyprian was set on revenge at first but of course gets swayed by love found along the way instead. There is a lot of consent so that’s always refreshing in some of these older HRs too!
May 16, 2026
4.5 Stars ⭐️ Cyprian Dare wants revenge on his biological father. Eliza wanted to go to Madeira with her 10 year old cousin, Aubry. Cyprian kidnaps them and brings them aboard his ship. Eliza was never not going to fall for Cyprian despite his gruff manners and rude words. Cyprian wanted Eliza more than revenge. I loved the romance between Cyprian and Eliza, and how they fell in love. I love how Aubry and Cyprian's relationship grew. I really liked the plot, the character growth, and it was just a lot of fun to read!
September 29, 2019
Rexanne Becnel patrí medzi autorky, ktoré mám v obľube. Moje srdce si získala romancami zo série Maker. Teraz sa mi do rúk dostal jej samostatný román Búrka v srdci, ktorého dej sa odohráva prevažne na mori. Hlavná hrdinka je totiž spolu so svojim desaťročným bratrancom Aubreym unesená. Kapitán, ktorý pôvodne plánoval uniesť iba Aubreyho, sa musel zmieriť s tým, že jeho ľudia priniesli spolu s ním aj jeho sesternicu (tá ho totiž bránila ako mačka svoje mláďa).
Medzi Elizou a Cyprianom sa od samého začiatku rozpúta nenávisť. Eliza je popudlivá a nedokáže pochopiť, prečo sa Cyprian zameral na malého chlapca. Čo má s ním v pláne? Prečo mu chce zle? Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.com/20...
Medzi Elizou a Cyprianom sa od samého začiatku rozpúta nenávisť. Eliza je popudlivá a nedokáže pochopiť, prečo sa Cyprian zameral na malého chlapca. Čo má s ním v pláne? Prečo mu chce zle? Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.com/20...
March 4, 2010
This was an ok book. I liked most aspects of it, but for some reason, I didn't really really connect in some way. I'm not sure if it was the hero or the heroine or what. It was similar to most other captive/kidnap books that I like, but I just didn't connect as I should have..didn't feel the fire. Its unexplainable. Maybe a later reread will be different. However, it did keep my attention, which is all I can ask for.
May 6, 2026
Started off not enjoying the book ...but Cyprian began to grow on me and I am glad he finally go what was coming to him.
A bid for freedom...
The lush, misty island of Madeira seemed a perfect escape from an unwanted bridegroom for shy, bookish heiress Eliza Thoroughgood.
Ambushed by desire...
But barely have they arrived when she and her frail young cousin Aubrey find themselves captive on the exotic vessel of Cyprian Dare—a man whose bold hands and even bolder mouth arouse a tiny, wicked part of Eliza.
An exquisite revenge...
Cyprian never forgave the man who abandoned his mother and made him a bastard. Now that man's heir, the boy Aubrey, will be his instrument of revenge—however furiously the beautiful Eliza guards him.
Foiled by an ecstatic love...
For Cyprian, it will be an easy matter to tame this lovely innocent in the sweet, dark seaswept night...until Eliza's passionate heart challenges him to a choice he could never have foreseen.
A bid for freedom...
The lush, misty island of Madeira seemed a perfect escape from an unwanted bridegroom for shy, bookish heiress Eliza Thoroughgood.
Ambushed by desire...
But barely have they arrived when she and her frail young cousin Aubrey find themselves captive on the exotic vessel of Cyprian Dare—a man whose bold hands and even bolder mouth arouse a tiny, wicked part of Eliza.
An exquisite revenge...
Cyprian never forgave the man who abandoned his mother and made him a bastard. Now that man's heir, the boy Aubrey, will be his instrument of revenge—however furiously the beautiful Eliza guards him.
Foiled by an ecstatic love...
For Cyprian, it will be an easy matter to tame this lovely innocent in the sweet, dark seaswept night...until Eliza's passionate heart challenges him to a choice he could never have foreseen.
April 21, 2026
A book about a sickly woman who goes away on a ship on vacation with family only to run into a captain who kidnaps them to get back at his father who abandoned him. The captain has to battle with love vs his need for revenge. Decent story, but I did not like the descriptions of the only 2 POC’s in the book. Often author calls Xavier a big, scary, dark African. Which maybe he was large, but the frequency of her using those terms was alarming. Furthermore, Africa is a continent, with many shades of skin tones depending on the country. Just seemed ignorant. Also a quote from how she described character Ana:
“Though she seldom said much, when she fixed her dark slanting eyes on a person, there was no doubt whether it was approval or disapproval she felt.”
“Though she seldom said much, when she fixed her dark slanting eyes on a person, there was no doubt whether it was approval or disapproval she felt.”
May 31, 2026
3.5 stars
This is an okay read. The writing is very approachable, and it is paced well. What I didn’t love about fhis is the low angst almost no plot part. This is heavily character driven. There are also quite a few tropes. Enemies to lovers, virginal FMC, forced proximity, kidnapping, and probably a couple more. The author did well with the tropes, there is just next to no conflict, at least not very high stakes conflicts.
Read for historical hellions.
This is an okay read. The writing is very approachable, and it is paced well. What I didn’t love about fhis is the low angst almost no plot part. This is heavily character driven. There are also quite a few tropes. Enemies to lovers, virginal FMC, forced proximity, kidnapping, and probably a couple more. The author did well with the tropes, there is just next to no conflict, at least not very high stakes conflicts.
Read for historical hellions.
Did Not Finish
January 25, 2025Okropny styl polskiej tłumaczki - na początku wciągnęło, ale znacznie się pogorszyło, kiedy bohater wszedł do akcji. Sceny z bohaterem są wybitnie irytujące, bardzo sztampowe - w oryginale pewnie tylko trochę lepsze od tych w polskim wydaniu. Pierwszy raz mam problem tylko z głównym bohaterem 🤷🏼♀️
July 17, 2018
Eliza and Cyprian
This is a sweet love story that has a brightness that is refreshing. Transformations, both physical and emotional, are the delightful weave of this tale. I liked it a lot and recommend it.
This is a sweet love story that has a brightness that is refreshing. Transformations, both physical and emotional, are the delightful weave of this tale. I liked it a lot and recommend it.
March 3, 2018
What a waste of time , a naive story that did not appeal to me and seemed a modern book forced in the 19th century .
December 28, 2025
At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but I decided to continue anyway.
Initially, the H was completely gone for the h. I loved how determined and seductive he was in his pursuit of her. However, later on, he made me genuinely angry. I couldn’t understand what happened to that intensity.
When the h leaves his island to return to her family—simply because he refuses to say he loves her (even though he clearly does, just too stubborn to admit it)—he doesn’t stop her. You expect him to follow her or fight for her later, but he never does. Instead, she comes back for him. I hated the H for this. By the end, his pursuit completely drops off.
It’s entirely the h’s effort that brings them back together. She was very likable: she confesses her love, takes initiative, and does the emotional work. Meanwhile, the H just lurks in the background, brooding and grieving whenever she leaves him.
The author seemed to give the H a personality shift. At first, he was all about seducing her—even going so far as to get her pregnant so she’d have to marry him and stay. But later, he just lets her go without a fight. It felt like the author made him act in whatever way was most convenient for the plot, rather than staying true to his character.
That said, I did enjoy the book overall. It was a light, non-intense pirate love story, and the supporting characters on the ship were interesting and added charm to the story.
Initially, the H was completely gone for the h. I loved how determined and seductive he was in his pursuit of her. However, later on, he made me genuinely angry. I couldn’t understand what happened to that intensity.
When the h leaves his island to return to her family—simply because he refuses to say he loves her (even though he clearly does, just too stubborn to admit it)—he doesn’t stop her. You expect him to follow her or fight for her later, but he never does. Instead, she comes back for him. I hated the H for this. By the end, his pursuit completely drops off.
It’s entirely the h’s effort that brings them back together. She was very likable: she confesses her love, takes initiative, and does the emotional work. Meanwhile, the H just lurks in the background, brooding and grieving whenever she leaves him.
The author seemed to give the H a personality shift. At first, he was all about seducing her—even going so far as to get her pregnant so she’d have to marry him and stay. But later, he just lets her go without a fight. It felt like the author made him act in whatever way was most convenient for the plot, rather than staying true to his character.
That said, I did enjoy the book overall. It was a light, non-intense pirate love story, and the supporting characters on the ship were interesting and added charm to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2009
Regency
February 27, 2012
Je craque pour ce pirate :p :p :p
September 18, 2025
Hoopla
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews